Does the new Bosstone suck out signal when off?

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 22 Sep 2008 6:35 am

I've got a new Mahoney Bosstone on the way. Does it suck signal when not on? Also, how long does the battery last? Looking forward to using this little unit. If it does cause problems, I see they make a unit that you plug the Bosstone into and it gives it true bypass. Might have to get one of those too.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Sep 2008 8:15 am

If the circuitry is like the old Boss Tone, it's a true bypass...it will not affect the tone when it's "off". If not, I would not recommend the unit. Also, if it's anything like the older units, the battery will last several years.

If anyone tells you a unit you're buying needs an "accesory" to make it a true bypass - don't buy it!

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 22 Sep 2008 8:33 am

Hey, Donny. This is the one Bobbe is selling, though I found it cheaper from Mahoney on Ebay, so I assume it's legit. That's awesome if it's true bypass. Also, I believe they sell the other unit mainly so you can use it as a stompbox rather than being attached to your guitar.

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 23 Sep 2008 6:42 pm

How many guys are using the bosstone. I've heard its what everybody used back in the 60's.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Sep 2008 7:24 pm

I always thought they sucked when they were on.

If I recall... (I did have one)... it was an early attempt at trying to get a "violin" sound out of the steel. I think that's what it's early concept was. We (some of us Nashville guys) always thought it sounded kinda like a swarm of bees.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 23 Sep 2008 8:23 pm

Here's a link to the Mahoney site:
http://mahoneyguitargear.com/

They are fuzz circuits with pretty good gain and big low end. They add a lot of sustain, so I guess that's the violin thing. I have had an old Music City MFG. Bosstone and the Mahoney, and they sound pretty much the same. The bypass seems fine. The Mahoney is a pretty faithful reproduction, and Mr. Mahoney seems like a good guy.

BTW, for all you metalheads: George Lynch uses a Bosstone. Go George!

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 24 Sep 2008 11:14 am

Well, Mikey D., according to Bobbe S, all you Nashville guys have one and it supposedly made him a lot of money, enought to pay for 2 houses, according to his video. Anyway, I'm not looking for a super overdrive sound, just something to turn on once in awhile to get a somewhat rock slide sound.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 24 Sep 2008 11:16 am

It'll work for that. The slide thing, not the houses.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 24 Sep 2008 11:24 am

The way the housing market is now, he could probably buy 4 more with a couple more "string section" sessions. I remember at least a couple songs on "Nashville Bar Association" where they were all using them and it sounded cool as hell.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Sep 2008 4:12 am

Todd Brown wrote:How many guys are using the bosstone. I've heard its what everybody used back in the 60's.

I still use one, but only as a fuzz/overdrive device. The "violin effect" is extremely limited and lame, and most steelers prefer a country fiddle sound, anyway - not something that sounds like 101 Violins playing through Fender Champs in Carlsbad Caverns. $:\$

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 11 Dec 2008 10:40 pm

Michael Haselman wrote:Well, Mikey D., according to Bobbe S, all you Nashville guys have one and it supposedly made him a lot of money, enought to pay for 2 houses, according to his video. Anyway, I'm not looking for a super overdrive sound, just something to turn on once in awhile to get a somewhat rock slide sound.

Me, too.
TTT
Anyone else using this effect?
Thanks
Steve

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 11 Dec 2008 11:36 pm

I have kept one plugged in on stage for years, maybe
turn it on once every three months. It seems to be
true bypass, I can't remember when I changed a battery. I don't plug it in if I'm recording, just
to be sure it's not affecting the tone. You can get
a usable effect by not turning up the overdrive too
high and combining it with a phase shifter, sort of
a David Lindleyesque thing.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 12 Dec 2008 10:47 am

Well, I've had mine for a couple months now, and I really don't use it much. It's pretty radical. Good to have in the arsenal, but my next G.A.S. toy will be a BBE Green Screamer, which has good reviews and true bypass, which is what I'm looking for. I just use distortion on gigs where I don't bring my 6-string and the band plays some rockers. Very sparingly. The Bosstone is just too-too for me. You really can't play more than one note at once with them. I've tried my Bad Monkey, which is OK and my modded TS-5. This new TS type comes with an adaptor, has true bypass and was reasonable on Amazon.

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 12 Dec 2008 11:07 am

Michael;
I'm dealing with the same thing,too. I would like a pedal that I can use with my electric guitar as well. There are so many distortion/overdrive units on the market, but finding one that matches well with a pedal steel... that's my goal.
Thanks for your prespective.
Steve

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Dec 2008 11:15 am

"101 Violins playing through Fender Champs in Carlsbad Caverns"

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 12 Dec 2008 11:25 am

Hey, Steve. That's the nice thing about playing both instruments. If the overdrive doesn't work for steel you can always use it for guitar. I think you should have a distortion/overdrive for every place you play.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 12 Dec 2008 1:08 pm

I have been using mine, 2 original sho sound models, for years. Currently when playing blues and I need to crank up the second part of a solo.
Once in a while I make cello-ish sounds when I want to, and maybe single string violin-ish sounds too.
I get a smooth Duane Allman sound and the hot blues opickers here always dig it.
I also use a first generation MXR distortion+ once in a while.
What I am looking for is a crunchy sound like RR gets for power chords and multiple notes..
Any suggestions here in SGF land?

Eddie Thomas · Post by **Eddie Thomas** » 13 Dec 2008 5:52 am

RR was using A Boss "Blues Driver" (BD-2).

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 13 Dec 2008 6:03 am

Eddie, RR is using way more than a Boss blues driver.

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 13 Dec 2008 3:32 pm

Does anyone know what all of those pedals are?
Stacked to his right?
Looks like a lot of Boss gear.

Scott Appleton · Post by **Scott Appleton** » 13 Dec 2008 5:35 pm

looks like a chorus, a EQ, a compressor, a o.d. a tube screamer.. a delay ..
not in that order .. and some other stuff.. oh and a E. B. volume pedal..
very guitar player stuff..

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 14 Dec 2008 7:29 am

He's got a Goodrich match box in front of everything and a dunlop wahwah, I'm not real familiar with the colors/id of the boxes... but his tone, for what he is playing, is amazing. crystal clear and crunchy. That yellow Carter just sings and it all went thru the Mesa. I think the Crate 50 was for his 6 string work.

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Does the new Bosstone suck out signal when off?

Does the new Bosstone suck out signal when off?

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